Garbage Bag Dispensing System

ABSTRACT

A liner bag anchor or garbage bag container contains a liner bag, with the liner bag containing garbage bags and the garbage bags held together in seriatim by use of separator tabs and garbage bag adaptors such that each garbage back may be separated by grasping either protruding end of a separator tab. A liner bag anchor may be filled with fluid to keep the container stationary when garbage bags are dispensed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a utility application based upon provisional patent application No. 61/419,111 filed on Dec. 2, 2010. This related application is incorporated herein by reference and made a part of this application. If any conflict arises between the disclosure of the invention in this utility application and that in the related application, the disclosure in this utility application shall govern. Moreover, the inventor(s) incorporate herein by reference any and all patents, patent applications, and other documents hard copy or electronic, cited or referred to in this application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

The invention generally relates to garbage bags and garbage dispensing systems. More particularly, the invention relates to means and methods of securing and dispensing garbage bags within garbage receptacles.

(2) Description of the Related Art

Other garbage bag dispenser systems are known in the related art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,826,361 Plastic Bag Dispenser System by Heckrodt discloses a box filled with garbage bags but fails to provide means of reloading the bags or securing the bags to the bottom of a trash container.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,168,591 issued on Jan. 30, 2007 to Miller discloses a trash bag dispenser using an adhesive backed hook and loop type fastener for attachment to the bottom of a garbage can receptacle. The Miller system requires each garbage receptacle to be retrofitted to accept the Miller trash bag dispenser, thus the Miller system does not easily move from one trash receptacle to another.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,353,950 issued on Oct. 11, 1994 to Taylor et al discloses a flexible trash bag dispenser that is attached to the bottom of a garbage receptacle by use of tape. The trash bags of Taylor are attached to one another and are separated by pulling upon each adjoining bag. Separating the garbage bags of Taylor often requires that fingers be moistened for a better grip on the bags. The use of tape or other adhesives to secure the trash bag dispenser makes Taylor less than optimal for quick installation.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,508,381 Bag Dispensing Assembly by Sadi discloses a bag dispensing assembly with a mounting structure, but fails to secure garbage bags within a typical receptacle found under a kitchen sink. Thus, there is room in the art for new means and methods of securing and dispensing garbage bags.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes shortfalls in the related art by presenting an unobvious and unique combination and configuration fluid chambers, bag retention chambers, specially configured garbage bags and other components to provide an efficient, compact, weighted, stable garbage bag dispenser and rolls of artfully connected garbage bags.

One of the main advantages of this invention is the integration of a refillable fluid chamber into a flexible garbage bag chamber. A side opening above the fluid chamber allows containers of bags to slip into the disclosed liner bag anchor. By simply adding water to the disclosed liner bag anchor or container, the prior art use of sticky tapes and special hardware is overcome. The present invention may be used in any garbage can receptacle.

In one disclosed embodiment, a flexible liner bag anchor contains a folded series of connected garbage bags. The garbage bags are attached to one another in a unique configuration allowing for quick separation by use of a separator tab. The use of a disclosed separator tab does not require fingers to be moistened to separate garbage bags, a serious shortfall in the related art.

In one disclosed embodiment, a serrated opening upon the top section of a flexible liner bag anchor allows garbage bags to be separated by force. In another embodiment, a liner bag anchor contains standard and folded garbage bags.

These and other objects and advantages will be made apparent when considering the following detailed specification when taken in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts an embodiment of a liner bag anchor.

FIG. 2 depicts an embodiment of a liner bag anchor.

FIG. 3 depicts a liner bag with a protruding garbage bag.

FIG. 4 depicts a liner bag being inserted into a bag retention chamber of a liner bag anchor.

FIG. 5 depicts a liner bag anchor containing a liner bag.

FIG. 6 depicts a garbage receptacle containing a liner bag anchor.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a garbage receptacle containing a liner bag anchor.

FIG. 8 depicts a plan view of one embodiment of a garbage bag configuration.

FIG. 9 depicts a series of garbage bags connected in seriatim

FIG. 10 depicts an open end of a garbage bag within a garbage receptacle.

FIG. 11 depicts a garbage bag placed around the upper lip of a garbage receptacle.

FIG. 12 depicts two connected garbage bags.

FIG. 13 depicts two connected garbage bags being separated.

FIG. 14 depicts a top garbage bag being separated from a bottom garbage bag.

FIG. 15 depicts a top garbage bag being separated from a bottom garbage bag.

FIG. 16 depicts a tab separator being removed from a bottom garbage bag.

REFERENCE NUMERALS IN THE DRAWINGS

-   -   100 a liner bag anchor or liner bag container     -   101 a liner bag void for accepting fluid     -   110 a serrated edge surrounding a center void 112 within a liner         bag anchor     -   112 a center void defined by edges of a top surface of a liner         bag anchor     -   113 a top surface of a liner bag anchor     -   115 an opening flap attached to a liner bag anchor     -   120 a fluid compartment within a liner bag anchor     -   150 side opening of liner bag anchor     -   200 a liner bag, may be used to contain a series of garbage bags         300     -   215 access flap on liner bag     -   300 a garbage bag or series of garbage bags     -   302 a separator tab used to connect two garbage bags and used to         quickly separate the two attached garbage bags     -   305 an upper garbage bag adaptor sometimes attached to a         separator tab and to a garbage bag 300 containing garbage     -   307 a lower garbage bag adaptor sometimes attached to a         separator tab and to an empty garbage bag and sometimes attached         to a separator tab     -   308 garbage bags shown connected in seriatim     -   310 perforations sometimes used to secure a garbage bag to a         separator tab 302 or 310     -   311 angled section of a garbage bag adaptor 305 or 307     -   312 a straight section found on either side of a garbage bag         adaptor 305 or 307     -   314 a straight connecting garbage bag edge found on a garbage         bag adaptor     -   315 a connector patch sometimes supplementally securing a         garbage bag adaptor 305 or 307 to a garbage bag 300     -   320 a straight connecting separator tab edge of a garbage bag         adaptor sometimes used to connect to a separator tab 302     -   340 tab pull assembly comprising an upper garbage bag adaptor         305, a separator tab 302 and a lower garbage bag adaptor 307     -   400 a garbage receptacle sometimes used to contain an embodiment         of the disclosed liner bag anchor and related components     -   405 upper lip of garbage receptacle, sometimes used to secure a         garbage bag opening     -   500 a disclosed embodiment comprising a liner bag anchor         containing a liner bag, with the liner bag containing garbage         bags and with the garbage bags held together in seriatim by use         of separator tabs and garbage bag adaptors

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is directed to certain specific embodiments of the invention. However, the invention can be embodied in a multitude of different ways as defined and covered by the claims and their equivalents. In this description, reference is made to the drawings wherein like parts are designated with like numerals throughout.

Unless otherwise noted in this specification or in the claims, all of the terms used in the specification and the claims will have the meanings normally ascribed to these terms by workers in the art.

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words “comprise,” “comprising” and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in a sense of “including, but not limited to.” Words using the singular or plural number also include the plural or singular number, respectively. Additionally, the words “herein,” “above,” “below,” and words of similar import, when used in this application, shall refer to this application as a whole and not to any particular portions of this application.

The above detailed description of embodiments of the invention is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed above. While specific embodiments of, and examples for, the invention are described above for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the invention, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize. For example, while steps are presented in a given order, alternative embodiments may perform routines having steps in a different order. The teachings of the invention provided herein can be applied to other systems, not only the systems described herein. The various embodiments described herein can be combined to provide further embodiments. These and other changes can be made to the invention in light of the detailed description.

Any and all the above references and U.S. patents and applications are incorporated herein by reference. Aspects of the invention can be modified, if necessary, to employ the systems, functions and concepts of the various patents and applications described above to provide yet further embodiments of the invention.

These and other changes can be made to the invention in light of the above detailed description. In general, the terms used in the following claims, should not be construed to limit the invention to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification, unless the above detailed description explicitly defines such terms. Accordingly, the actual scope of the invention encompasses the disclosed embodiments and all equivalent ways of practicing or implementing the invention under the claims.

Referring to FIG. 1, one embodiment of a liner bag anchor 100 or liner bag container is generally shown without garbage bags or a garbage bag liner. A liner bag anchor void 101 may be used for adding fluid into a fluid compartment 120 within the liner bag anchor. fluid cap 401 is shown, The use of water to fill the fluid container is contemplated and a vertical void cap is used to lessen the risk of spillage.

An upper top surface 113 upon the liner bag anchor defines a center void 112. The center void may be further defined by a serrated edge 110. The center void 112 is sometimes used to dispense accept garbage bags stored within the liner bag anchor.

An opening flap 115 is shown in a closed. If opened, the opening flap 15 reveals a side opening (150 of FIG. 4) allowing for the insertion of a liner bag.

Referring to FIG. 2, a liner bag anchor 100 is shown next to FIG. 3, a liner bag 200. FIG. 3 shows a garbage bag protruding from the liner bag 200. The liner bag is shown with an access flap, sometimes used to insert garbage bags.

Referring to FIG. 4, a liner bag 200 containing garbage bags 300 is being fitted or inserted through a side opening 150 of a liner bag anchor 100. The opening flap 115 is in an open position. just under the 300 outer covering of the flexible garbage bag chamber.

Referring to FIG. 5, a disclosed embodiment 500 is shown comprising a liner bag anchor containing a liner bag, with the liner bag containing garbage bags and with the garbage bags held together in seriatim by use of separator tabs and garbage bag adaptors.

FIG. 6 depicts a garbage receptacle 400 or garbage can having an upper lip 405, with the upper lip sometimes used to retain an open perimeter of a garbage bag. A liner bag anchor can be seen at the bottom of the garbage receptacle.

FIG. 7 depicts a sectional view of a garbage receptacle 400 containing a liner bag anchor 100, with a garbage bag 300 protruding out of the liner bag anchor.

FIG. 8 depicts a tap pull assembly 340 assembly comprising an upper garbage bag adaptor 305, a separator tab 302 and a lower garbage bag adaptor 307. In one configuration, each garbage bag adaptor attaches to a garbage bag. In another configuration, the garbage bag adaptors are integral to the garbage bags.

FIG. 9 depicts a series of garbage bags connected in seriatim.

FIG. 10 depicts a garbage bag 300 being opened within a garbage receptacle 400.

FIG. 11 depicts a garbage bag opened and secured around the top lip portion of a garbage receptacle.

FIG. 12 depicts a pull tab assembly 340 comprising an upper garbage bag adaptor 305, a separator tab 302 and a lower garbage bag adaptor 307. The lower garbage bag adaptor and upper garbage bag adaptor may be considered symmetrical and mirror images of one another. Each garbage bag adaptor may have a straight connecting garbage bag edge 314, a straight section 312 found on either side, an angled section 311 and a straight connecting separator tab edge 320.

Embodiments of the invention allow for a plurality of plastic bags or garbage bags to be held in the bottom on any trash container. No special attachments or hooks are needed to secure the bags to the bottom of the container as weight stored within the fluid chamber holds the bags down. Various forms of interwoven garbage bags are contemplated as well as the use of folded and perforated garbage bags.

Embodiments of the invention include:

1. A system for a liner bag anchor for receiving and dispensing trash bags attached together in seriatim, the system comprising:

a) a liner bag anchor being made of flexible material, having six sides with a top surface defining a center void and with the center void further defined by a perimeter made of a serrated edge, the liner bag anchor having an interior section enclosed within the six sides of the liner bag anchor, the liner bag anchor having an opening flap exposing the interior section, the liner bag anchor having a void to accept fluid, the void defined by a fluid compartment of the liner bag anchor;

b) a liner bag containing a plurality of garbage bags connected together in seriatim, the liner bag fitting through the opening flap of the liner bag anchor and the center void of the liner bag anchor accepting a garbage bag;

c) a pull tab assembly attaching each garbage bag to another garbage bag, the pull tab assembly comprising an upper garbage bag adaptor, a separator tab and a lower garbage bag adaptor;

d) the upper garbage bag adaptor and lower garbage bag adaptor being mirror images of one another and each having a straight connecting garbage bag edge, sometimes attached to a garbage bag, a straight connecting separator tab edge sometimes attached to a separator tab, an angled section at either side, and a straight section on either side;

e) a separator tab having two ends protruding from the angled sections of the upper and lower garbage bag adaptors, the separator tab attached with perforations with the straight connecting separator tab edges of the upper and lower garbage bag adaptors.

2. The system of 1 with water added to the liner bag anchor.

3. The system of 1 with a connector patch used to further secure the upper and lower garbage bag adaptors to garbage bags.

4. A system for dispensing trash bags, the system comprising:

a liner bag anchor being made of flexible material, having six sides with a top surface defining a center void, the liner bag anchor having an interior section enclosed within the six sides of the liner bag anchor, the liner bag anchor having an opening flap exposing the interior section, the liner bag anchor having a void to accept fluid, the void defined by a fluid compartment of the liner bag anchor.

5. The system of 4 including a plurality of garbage bags attached together in seriatim, with the garbage bags located inside the liner bag anchor and with the garbage bags folded upon one another. 

1. A system for a liner bag anchor for receiving and dispensing trash bags attached together in seriatim, the system comprising: a) a liner bag anchor being made of flexible material, having six sides with a top surface defining a center void and with the center void further defined by a perimeter made of a serrated edge, the liner bag anchor having an interior section enclosed within the six sides of the liner bag anchor, the liner bag anchor having an opening flap exposing the interior section, the liner bag anchor having a void to accept fluid, the void defined by a fluid compartment of the liner bag anchor; b) a liner bag containing a plurality of garbage bags connected together in seriatim, the liner bag fitting through the opening flap of the liner bag anchor and the center void of the liner bag anchor accepting a garbage bag; c) a pull tab assembly attaching each garbage bag to another garbage bag, the pull tab assembly comprising an upper garbage bag adaptor, a separator tab and a lower garbage bag adaptor; d) the upper garbage bag adaptor and lower garbage bag adaptor being mirror images of one another and each having a straight connecting garbage bag edge, sometimes attached to a garbage bag, a straight connecting separator tab edge sometimes attached to a separator tab, an angled section at either side, and a straight section on either side; e) a separator tab having two ends protruding from the angled sections of the upper and lower garbage bag adaptors, the separator tab attached with perforations with the straight connecting separator tab edges of the upper and lower garbage bag adaptors.
 2. The system of claim 1 with water added to the liner bag anchor.
 3. The system of claim 1 with a connector patch used to further secure the upper and lower garbage bag adaptors to garbage bags.
 4. A system for dispensing trash bags, the system comprising: a liner bag anchor being made of flexible material, having six sides with a top surface defining a center void, the liner bag anchor having an interior section enclosed within the six sides of the liner bag anchor, the liner bag anchor having an opening flap exposing the interior section, the liner bag anchor having a void to accept fluid, the void defined by a fluid compartment of the liner bag anchor.
 5. The system of claim 4 including a plurality of garbage bags attached together in seriatim, with the garbage bags located inside the liner bag anchor and with the garbage bags folded upon one another. 